A MUM who ditched her little boy at Manchester Airport while she jetted off for two weeks in the sun with her new family is understood to have been allowed to see her son on Christmas Day.

The 11-year-old spent Christmas with foster parents after his mother sent him home alone in a taxi from the airport last Wednesday because he didn't have a passport.

At the time social workers said arrangements would be made for the youngster to have some contact with his mother on Christmas Day.

The boy's mother, 33, flew out to the Canary Islands with her new husband, their 18-month-old baby and her mother-in-law, after sending the youngster, from a previous relationship, 20 miles home in a taxi alone.

The mother flew back to Manchester after being contacted by Spanish police.

She has since been interviewed by Derbyshire police and released with charge, but officers, are expected to speak to the woman from New Mills again.

The rest of the family was said to have remained in the Canary Islands.

The child was sent home with the front door keys and told to help himself to frozen pizza and other food in the house to microwave.

He was also given money to buy his own Christmas presents. But when he arrived home he was spotted by a neighbour who cared for him for two days before contacting social services.

The little boy was then taken into care before being placed with foster parents.

As he was on his way back home, his mother is said to have phoned her new husband's brother to tell him her child was on the way.

The neighbour said: "My husband went to get the older brother of the boy's stepfather. He said he's had a phone call saying the child was in a taxi and could he look after them because the flight was about to go. He said he couldn't because he works late."

Police are expected to consider whether to charge the boy's mother with neglect.